Extension-ladder.



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APPLICATION FILED OUT. 24', 1910.

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. R. SPEARS.

EXTENSION LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24, 1910.

982,890. Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

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NI ED STATEiIiTENT OFFICE.

JESSE R. SPEARS, OF GOSHEN, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO GOSHEN CHURN & LADDERCOMPANY, OF GOSHEN, INDIANA.

EXTENSION-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

Application filed. October 24, 1910. Serial No. 588,793.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Jesse It. SPEARS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Goshen, Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in EXt8I1Sl0I1LLCl ders, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in extension ladders.

The main objects of this invention are to provide in an extension ladderan improved securing or retaining hook which is automatic in its actionand simple in structure, and one in which no springs are required.

' Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure, which is a preferred embodiment of my invention, is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification, in which:

Figure 1 is a detail front elevation of a structure embodying thefeatures of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view, the partsbeing broken away to better illustrate structural details. Fig. 3 is anenlarged detail vertical section taken on a line corresponding to line 3of Figs. 1 and 2, the hook being shown in its inoperative position bydotted lines, and the hook actuating member being shown in engagementwith a round of the rear section, in which position it throws the hookinto its engaging position. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section takenon a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing means forslidably connecting the ladder sections.

In the drawings, similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, the structure illustrated comprises a rearladder section 1 and a front section 2, the sections being slidablyconnected'by means of the brackets 8, which are secured to the rearsection, as by means of the rivets 4 to project over the side bars orrisers of the front section. These sections are commonly formed ofsuitable risers or side pieces and rounds, as is the usual practice inladders of this type.

The hook 5 is mounted on the pivot 6 on the inner side of the side railor riser of the front ladder section, so that the hook faces rearwardlyand downwardly. One end of the pivot is supported by a strap-likebracket 7. The swing of the hook is limited by means of the loop 8,which engages the upwardly-projecting, rearwardly-curved arm 9 on thehook.

An actuating member 10 for the hook is provided, the lower end of thehook being slotted at 11 to receive the actuating member, which ispivotally mounted on the hook pivot 6. The actuatin member 10 isprovided with hook-engag1ng stops, preferably laterally-projectinglug-stops 12, which are adapted to engage the stop shoulders 13 on thehook above the pivot when the member 10 is swung up, and the stopshoulders 14: below the hook pivot when the member 10 is swung down. Theactuating member 10 is held normally in the path of the rounds of therear ladder section by means of the counterbalance 15. (See Fig. 3). Theactuating member is adapted to close the hook as well as to actuate it.

IVith the parts thus arranged, when the front ladder section is moved upand down on the rear section, the hook is automatically thrown into andout of its engaging position. IVith the hook engaged, as is shown in thedrawings, when it is desired to readjust the ladder, if it is desired toextend it, the outer section is merely pushed upwardly. The hookengaging with the round above will be swung to its discngaging position.The front section is, however, pushed up until the actuating member 10engages the round with which it is desired to engage the hook, when thehook will be thrown into its engaging position and on lowering the frontsection, will en- 'age.

WVhen it is desired to lower or collapse the ladder, the front laddersection is moved upwardly until the actuating member passes the roundwith which the book was engaged, and the front section is then lowered.The round engaging the under side of the actuating member throws thehook rearwardly, and with the actuating member adapted, as in thestructure illustrated, to serve as a guard, closes the hook.

By arranging the parts as I have illustrated and described, I secure anautomatic acting hook, which is simple in structure and operateseffectively without the use of springs. I have illustrated and describedthe improvements in detail in the form in which I have embodied them inpractice. I am aware, however, that the structural details may be variedconsiderably without departing from my invention, but as such variationsin details will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which thisinvention relates, I have not attempted to illustrate or describe thesame herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an extension ladder, the combination of the front and rearslidably-associated ladder. sections; a downwardly-facing hook pivotallymounted on the front section to coact with the rounds of the rearsection, said hook being provided with stops above and below its pivot;and an actuating member mounted on the hook pivot to engage the roundsof the rear section as the front section is adjusted, said member beingprovided with means for bringing it normally to its round-engaging.position and being adapted to coact with said stops on said hook,whereby said hook is thrown out of its engaging position on the downwardmovement and into its engaging position on the upward movement of saidfront ladder section.

2. In an extension ladder,'the combination with the front and rearslidably-associated ladder sections; a downwardly-facing hook pivotallymounted on the front section to coact with the rounds of the rearsection, said hook being provided with stops below its pivot; and anactuating and guard member for said hook mounted on said hook pivot toengage the rounds of the rear section as the front section is adjusted,the lower end of said hook being slotted to re ceive said member, saidmember being provided with means for bringing it normally into itsround-engaging position and with laterally-projecting lugs adapted tocoact with said stops on said hook, whereby said hook is closed on thedownward movement and thrown into its engaging position on the upwardmovement of said front ladder section.

3. In an extension ladder, the combination of the front and rearslidably-associated ladder sections; a downwardly-facing hook pivotallymounted on the front section to coact with the rounds of the rearsection; and an actuating member arranged to en gage the rounds of therear section as the front section is adjusted, said member beingprovided with means for bringing it normally into its round-engagingposition and being adapted, when actuated by the adjustment of the frontladder section, to swing said hook into its disengaging position on thedownward movement, and to swing it into its engaging position on theupward movement of the front ladder section.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two witnesses.

JESS-E R. SPEARS. [n s.] Y \Vitnesses:

CHAS. MCDONALD, BERNARD S. PAINE.

